Four-grip cane

ABSTRACT

The current document is directed to a four-grip walking-cane handle that provides four different gripping modes to users of walking canes that incorporate the four-grip walking-cane handle. The four-grip walking-cane handle includes a palm grip, a thumb rest, and two finger-placement channels in addition to a walking-cane-handle shaft for attachment of the four-grip walking-cane handle to a proximal end of a walking-cane shaft. A distal end of the walking-cane shaft may be coupled to any of various types of ferrules that provide traction and conformance to various types of surfaces and objects.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The current document is directed to ambulation assistive devices and, in particular, to a walking-cane handle that provides four different gripping modes that involve use of different muscle groups and that produce different force distributions over the surface of a user's palm and fingers.

BACKGROUND

Ambulation assistive devices have been used for thousands of years by physically disabled, injured, and older users to facilitate standing, walking, and various body motions. There are many different types of ambulation assistive devices, from crutches, wheel chairs, and other wheeled devices to walking sticks and walking canes. It is estimated that, in the United States, at least ten percent of the population over the age of 65 routinely uses walking canes to facilitate walking and standing and to provide balance for additional types of motions, including sitting and rising from a sitting position.

There are many different types of walking-cane handles, including traditional J-shaped and T-shaped handles. Newer walking canes may feature complex shapes that extend load-bearing surfaces from the hand only to the hand and entire forearm. For many users of walking canes, the traditional and currently available handles are associated with significant disadvantages. One disadvantage is that traditional walking-cane handles generally provide a single mode of gripping. As a result, over extended periods of time, constant pressure on only limited areas of the surface of users' palms and fingers may results in aches and pains and, over time, to more serious medical conditions involving both muscle and bone irregularities and deterioration. Furthermore, a single gripping mode is often less than optimal for each of various different uses of a walking cane. The walking cane may provide support for standing and walking and provide balance for other types of motions, but may also be used for precise navigation of hazards, such as metal gratings, cracked sidewalks, and potholes, for support on irregular surfaces, and for pointing and applying pressure to remote objects and surfaces. As a result, designers, manufacturers, and users of walking canes continue to seek new types of walking canes that more optimally facilitate the various uses and tasks for which walking canes are employed.

SUMMARY

The current document is directed to a four-grip walking-cane handle that provides four different gripping modes to users of walking canes that incorporate the four-grip walking-cane handle. The four-grip walking-cane handle includes a palm grip, a thumb rest, and two forger-placement channels in addition to a walking-cane-handle shaft for attachment of the four-grip walking-cane handle to a proximal end of a walking-cane shaft. A distal end of the walking-cane shaft may be coupled to any of various types of ferrules that provide traction and conformance to various types of surfaces and objects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate one implementation of the four-grip walking-cane handle from three different perspectives.

FIGS. 4-6 illustrate a complete walking cane that incorporates the four-grip walking-cane handle discussed above with reference to FIGS. 1-3 from three different perspectives.

FIGS. 7-10 illustrate the four different gripping modes provided by the four-grip walking-cane handle discussed with reference to FIGS. 1-6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The current document is directed to a four-grip walking-cane handle. In the discussion that follows, a particular implementation of the four-grip walking-cane handle is disclosed, with reference to numerous illustrations. It should be noted, at the onset, that the shape and surface geometry of four-grip walking-cane handle may be refined, and the dimensions and scaling parameters that characterize a particular implementation of the four-grip walking-cane handle may be specifically tailored, to produce a particular implementation best suited to a particular individual's hand. In one manufacturing and distribution model, each four-grip walking-cane handle is specifically tailored to the hand of a particular user. In alternative manufacturing and distribution models, four-grip walking-cane handles are manufactured in a range of sizes and shapes, from which a most suitable four-grip walking-cane handle is selected for a particular user or selected by a particular user. Furthermore, the implementations discussed below and illustrated in FIGS. 1-10 are right-hand walking-cane handles. Left-hand walking-cane handles are related to right-hand walking-cane handles by mirror-plane symmetry.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate one implementation of the four-grip walking-cane handle from three different perspectives. As shown in FIG. 1, the four-grip walking-cane handle 100 includes an extended palm grip 102 with a flared end 104, a thumb-rest surface 106, viewed edge-on in FIG. 1, a thumb-placement channel that accommodates a user's thumb when the user's thumb rests on the thumb-rest surface, a lower finger-placement channel 108 and an upper finger-placement channel 110, and an approximately circularly cylindrical shaft 112. FIG. 2 illustrates the four-grip walking-cane handle from a different perspective. The palm grip 102, flared end 104, thumb-rest surface 106, lower finger-placement channel 108, upper finger-placement channel 110, and walking-cane-handle shaft 112 are numerically labeled as in FIG. 1. Similarly, FIG. 3 shows yet an additional view of the walking-cane handle from a different perspective. Again, the numerical labels used in FIGS. 1 and 2 are again used in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 4-6 illustrate a complete walking cane that incorporates the four-grip walking-cane handle discussed above with reference to FIGS. 1-3 from three different perspectives. As shown in FIG. 4, the complete walking cane includes the four-grip walking-cane handle 100, a walking-cane shaft 402, and a ferrule 404 at the distal end of the walking-cane shaft. The approximately circularly cylindrical shaft 112 of the four-grip walking-cane handle 100 fits into a complementary, approximately circularly cylindrical bore in the proximal end of the walking-cane shaft. A metal, plastic, or wood ring-like fitting 406 may be used to strengthen the connection between the four-grip walking-cane handle 100 and the walking-cane shaft 402 as well as cover the juncture between the four-grip walking-cane handle 100 and the walking-cane shaft 402 to provide an acceptably neat appearance. Other types of connections between the four-grip walking-cane handle and walking-cane shaft are used in alternative implementations. For example, the approximately cylindrical four-grip walking-cane handle shaft 112 may have a larger diameter with an internal approximately circularly cylindrical bore in order to fit over the proximal end of the walking-cane shaft 402 rather than slipping into a bore within the proximal end of the walking-cane shaft. Metal screws, threaded rods and sockets, plates, threaded sleeves, and other fastening devices and compositions, such as glues, may additionally be used to secure the four-grip walking-cane handle to the walking-cane shaft.

FIGS. 7-10 illustrate the four different gripping modes provided by the four-grip walking-cane handle discussed with reference to FIGS. 1-6. FIG. 7 shows a first gripping mode. In the first gripping mode, a user's hand 702 is positioned so that the user's palm 704 lays against the top surface of the palm grip 102 and the user's four fingers wrap around the palm grip.

FIG. 8 shows a second gripping mode provided by the four-grip walking-cane handle. In the second gripping mode, a user's thumb 802 extends along the top surface of the palm grip 102 and rests on the thumb-rest surface. As in the first gripping mode shown in FIG. 1, the user's four fingers wrap around the palm grip 102.

FIG. 9 shows a third gripping mode provided by the four-grip walking-cane handle. In the third gripping mode, the user's index finger 902 wraps around the walking-cane handle in order to lie in the lower finger-placement channel 108. The remaining three fingers of the user wrap around the palm grip 102 and the user's thumb 802 rests on the thumb-rest surface.

FIG. 10 shows a fourth gripping mode provided by the four-grip walking-cane handle. In the fourth gripping mode, the user's index finger 802 rests within the upper finger-placement channel 110 and the user's middle finger 1002 rests within the lower finger-placement channel 108. The user's thumb 802 rests on the thumb-rest surface.

The first gripping mode, illustrated in FIG. 7, provides a secure, traditional type of gripping useful to facilitate standing and walking. The second gripping mode, illustrated in FIG. 8, may also be used to facilitate standing, pointing, and walking, but also significantly redistributes the force transferred to a user's palm and fingers in order to shift and relieve pressure points. In addition, the second gripping mode may provide somewhat greater lateral stability to the walking cane. The third gripping mode, illustrated in FIG. 9, also redistributes the forces applied to the user's hand and fingers. In addition, a third gripping mode significantly increases directional control of the cane, providing a user with the ability to easily lift and position the distal end of the walking cane at precise locations. The fourth gripping mode, illustrated in FIG. 10, also provides a different distribution of forces to the user's hand and fingers as well as increased directional control of the walking-cane shaft.

The four-grip walking-cane handle can alternatively be described as providing a set of surfaces that provide the four gripping positions described above with reference to FIGS. 7-10. For example, the set of curved surfaces may be described as providing: (1) a first gripping position in which the central surface of a user's palm, the inner surfaces of the user's fingers, and the side of the user's thumb wrap around a handle-like surface, as shown in FIG. 7; (2) a second gripping position in which the user's thumb fits within a first channel-like surface that is continuous with the handle-like surface on which the lower portion of the user's palm rests and around which the inner surfaces of the user's fingers wrap, as shown in FIG. 8; (3) a third gripping position in which the user's thumb fits within the first channel-like surface that is continuous with the handle-like surface on which the lower portion of the user's palm rests, the user's index finger fits within a second channel-like surface, and the user's remaining three fingers wrap around the handle-like surface, as shown in FIG. 9; and (4) a fourth gripping position in which the user's thumb and index finger wrap around and rest within an annular first channel-like surface, the user's middle finger fits within the second channel-like surface, and the user's remaining two fingers wrapping around the handle-like surface, as shown in FIG. 10.

There are many parameters and characteristics of the four-grip walking-cane handle that can be varied in order to tailor a particular four-grip walking-cane handle to a particular user. Some of these parameters include the depth and radius of curvature of the lower and upper finger-placement channels, the width of the thumb-rest surface, the depth and curvature of the thumb-placement channel, the radius, cross-section shape, volume, and length of the palm grip, the relative size of the flare at the end of the palm grip with respect to the size of the palm grip, the thicknesses of the ridges that form the lower and upper finger-placement channels and the thumb-placement channel, and the overall dimensions of the four-grip walking-cane handle. When viewed as a set of surfaces, the parameters and characteristics may include a radius of curvature of the first channel-like surface, an area of the first channel-like surface, the length of a line along the innermost portion of the first channel-like surface, a radius of curvature of the second channel-like surface, an area of the second channel-like surface, the length of a line along the innermost portion of the second channel-like surface, a radius of curvature of the handle-like surface, a cross-section shape of the handle-like surface, and an area of the handle-like surface.

Tailoring of the four-grip walking-cane handle to a particular user's hand may be accomplished experimentally, by allowing a user to try a wide range of differently shaped and differently dimensioned four-grip walking-cane handles, or by using a computer application that images a user's hand, computes values of the various different parameters and characteristics based on measurements of the hand image, and then generates a three-dimensional model of the four-grip walking-cane handle that can be input to any of various different computer-controlled machine tools and three-dimensional-object printers.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments, it is not intended that the invention be limited to these embodiments. Modifications within the spirit of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the four-grip walking-cane handle may be made from a wide variety of different types of materials, including thermoset plastics and resins, various different types of polymeric substances, composite materials, such as fiberglass, metal, wood, natural fibers, and other natural and artificial substances. The four-grip walking-cane handle may be fabricated by casting, molding, injection molding, three-dimensional printing, computer-controlled milling and shaping, and by many additional types of fabrication methods. As discussed above, the parameters and characteristics of the palm grip, flare, lower and upper finger-placement channels, thumb-rest surface, and thumb-placement channel may be tailored to specific users. Other portions of the four-grip walking-cane handle may be varied for aesthetic reasons as well as to provide surfaces and attachment points for additional types of devices and equipment. For example, the top surface of the four-grip walking-cane handle may be shaped to hold a flashlight or for mounting of a cell phone. Various different types of electronic appliances may be incorporated within the volume of the four-grip walking-cane handle along with power supplies and other components and subsystems. The four-grip walking-cane handle may have various different types of textured and chemically treated surfaces to facilitate gripping, comfort, and usability in moist environments.

It is appreciated that the previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. 

1. A four-grip walking-cane handle comprising: a walking-cane-handle shaft; a palm grip; an upper finger-placement channel; a lower finger-placement channel; and a thumb rest with a thumb-rest surface and adjacent thumb-placement channel.
 2. The four-grip walking-cane handle of claim 1 wherein the palm grip has a flared end.
 3. The four-grip walking-cane handle of claim 1 wherein the four-grip walking-cane handle is composed of one or more of: a thermoset plastic; a thermoset resin; a polymeric substance; a composite materials; metal; wood; and natural fibers.
 4. The four-grip walking-cane handle of claim 1 wherein the four-grip walking-cane handle is characterized by a number of parameters, the number of parameters including two or more of: a depth of the lower finger-placement channel; a radius of curvature of the lower finger-placement channel; a depth of the upper finger-placement channel; a radius of curvature of the upper finger-placement channel; a width of the thumb-rest surface; a depth of the thumb-placement channel; a curvature of the thumb-placement channel; a radius of the palm grip; a cross-section shape of the palm grip; a volume of the palm grip; a length of the palm grip; a relative size of the flare at the end of the palm grip with respect to the size of the palm grip; thicknesses of ridges that form the lower and upper finger-placement channels and the thumb-placement channel; and overall dimensions of the four-grip walking-cane handle.
 5. The four-grip walking-cane handle of claim 4 wherein the values of the number of parameters are selected to tailor the four-grip walking-cane handle to a particular user's hand.
 6. The four-grip walking-cane handle of claim 1 incorporated into a walking cane having a walking-cane shaft.
 7. The four-grip walking-cane handle of claim 6 wherein the walking-cane-handle shaft fits into a bore within the proximal end of the walking-cane shaft.
 8. The four-grip walking-cane handle of claim 6 wherein the walking-cane-handle shaft includes a bore within which the proximal end of the walking-cane shaft fits.
 9. The four-grip walking-cane handle of claim 6 further including a ferrule coupled to the distal end of the walking-cane shaft.
 10. The four-grip walking-cane handle of claim 6 further including a ring-like fitting that strengthens and covers a juncture between the walking-cane handle and the walking-cane shaft.
 11. The four-grip walking-cane handle of claim 6 further including a ring-like fitting that strengthens and covers a juncture between the walking-cane handle and the walking-cane shaft.
 12. The four-grip walking-cane handle of claim 6 further including one or more securing devices and/or compositions to secure the four-grip walking-cane handle to the walking-cane shaft selected from among: a metal screw; a metal plate; threaded sleeves; and a glue.
 13. A four-grip walking-cane handle comprising: an attachment feature used to attach the walking-cane-handle to a walking-cane shaft; and a set of curved surfaces that provide four different, secure gripping positions, the four different, secure gripping positions including a first gripping position in which the central surface of a user's palm, the inner surfaces of the user's fingers, and the side of the user's thumb wrap around a handle-like surface; a second gripping position in which the user's thumb fits within a first channel-like surface that is continuous with the handle-like surface on which the lower portion of the user's palm rests and around which the inner surfaces of the user's fingers wrap, a third gripping position in which the user's thumb fits within the first channel-like surface that is continuous with the handle-like surface on which the lower portion of the user's palm rests, the user's index finger fits within a second channel-like surface, and the user's remaining three fingers wrap around the handle-like surface, and a fourth gripping position in which the user's thumb and index finger wrap around and rest within an annular first channel-like surface, the user's middle finger fits within the second channel-like surface, and the user's remaining two fingers wrapping around the handle-like surface.
 14. The four-grip walking-cane handle of claim 13 wherein a palm grip provides the handle-like surface; wherein an upper finger-placement channel provides a first portion the first channel-like surface; wherein a lower finger-placement channel provides the second channel-like surface; and wherein a thumb rest with a thumb-rest surface and adjacent thumb-placement channel provides a second portion of the first channel-like surface.
 15. The four-grip walking-cane handle of claim 13 wherein the four-grip walking-cane handle is composed of one or more of: a thermoset plastic; a thermoset resin; a polymeric substance; a composite materials; metal; wood; and natural fibers.
 16. The four-grip walking-cane handle of claim 13 wherein the four-grip walking-cane handle is characterized by a number of parameters, the number of parameters including two or more of: a radius of curvature of the first channel-like surface; an area of the first channel-like surface; the length of a line along the innermost portion of the first channel-like surface; a radius of curvature of the second channel-like surface; an area of the second channel-like surface; the length of a line along the innermost portion of the second channel-like surface; a radius of curvature of the handle-like surface; a cross-section shape of the handle-like surface; an area of the handle-like surface; and overall dimensions of the four-grip walking-cane handle.
 17. The four-grip walking-cane handle of claim 13 incorporated into a walking cane having a walking-cane shaft.
 18. The four-grip walking-cane handle of claim 17 further including a ferrule coupled to the distal end of the walking-cane shaft. 